A small island, Taiwan, just 110
miles east of mainland China, has witnessed the presence of various colonial
powers, ranging from Western trade voyagers to a rising military power in East
Asia. Originally inhabited by Aboriginals, it practically had no contact with
outsiders until the advent of the Dutch East India Company in southwestern
Formosa in the year 1624. The climatic conditions, availability of cheap and strong
manpower, proximity to China, and sea trade routes were incentives for the
Dutch East Indian Company to set up plantations of rubber and grains. The news
quickly spread among European burgeoning traders about an island of
opportunity. Then, in 1626, the Spanish established their base in Northern
Taiwan, known as Hermosa. With two European powers holding almost far points of
the territory, there were no intentions to share the jewels of the island with
each other. As a result, the strong Dutch forces ousted the Spanish from
Hermosa. For the next 40 years, the Dutch solely enjoyed the profits of
Formosan rubber and grain plantations.
Brief about China – Japan
competition for influence in east Asia
The Meiji Restoration propelled
Japan towards rapid modernization and industrialization. The sudden surge in
military prowess and the resource-hungry industries compelled Japan to expand
beyond its borders in search of resources. The objective in East Asia was to
bring the Korean peninsula into its sphere of influence, which was presently
aligned with Qing China. The struggle to bring Korea into their respective
spheres of influence resulted in a war between a formidable Chinese army and a
freshly modernized Japanese force during the Tonghak Rebellion in Korea. To the
surprise of China, the Qing army lost the upper hand to Japan. As a result,
Japan was given control of the territories of Korea and Formosa (Taiwan) under
the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895. Taiwan remained under Japanese occupation
until the surrender in 1945.
TIMELINE
1624 – Dutch East India Company
occupied South-western Taiwan
1626- Spanish established base in
Northern Taiwan (Hermosa), but eventually thrown out by Dutch
1662- Ming loyalist fled to
Taiwan and drove out Dutch East Indian company. 1st instance of a
Chinese dynasty claiming Taiwan
1683- In search of absconding
Ming loyalist, Qing landed in Taiwan and taken control of island
1885- Taiwan is declared as
province of Qing empire
1895- Treaty of Shimonoseki. Qing
ceded Taiwan to Japan
1945 – Taiwan returned to China
after surrender of Japanese imperial army
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